Traffic lane marker strip



J. E. CARTER TRAFFIC LANE MARKER STRIP Dec. 11, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 18, 1946 INVENTOR. .1011); E. Curler H15 ATTORNEYS Dec. 11, 1951 J. E. CARTER 2,577,997

TRAFFIC LANE MARKER STR'IP Filed May 18, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fiyjb INVENTOR.

Jofin E. Carter Dec. 11, 1951 J. E. CARTER 2,577,997

TRAFFIC LANE MARKER STRIP 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 18, 1946 -J2b\ 12 12a 15 21 IIIWIII 1/11 INVENTOR. John E. Carrier 72%M XQd/OL H15 ATTORNEYS Dec. 11, 1951 J. E. CARTER 2,577,997

TRAFFIC LANE MARKERSTRIP Filed May 18, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 EP-THEDJTOR. lafzz; E, 6013521" 17/5 A. TTTMN 15 Patented Dec. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES E ATENT GFFlCE TRAFFIC LANE MARKER STRIP John E. Carter, Columbus, Ohio Application May- 18, 1946 Serial-No. 670;792"

14 Claims. 1

in lation relates to a traffic lane marker strip; fitting-flush with the surface of a concrete roadway, and more particularly pertains to an elastom er covereametallane marker strip which is'fastened to dcwelbars andvertical. joint sealing; strips between; concrete slabs; in a waterproof manner, so;that:the marker strip may/follow a vertical; joint between concrete: slabs; and be: fastened to the; dowelv bars, without. interfering; with the water-prooi nature ofrlthe joint. invention; also; relates to discs;.or squares; of; metal covered; with elastomer-ic material, which clises- ,orsquares-mayv be; secured tosaid rgagiwavtqform spot traflie markers;

The principal object of; my invention is: to, provide a trafiic lane market" strip for 3.43011:- crat slah roadway; whichzstripjs :secured to the" roadway fiush with; theasurface, anclwvhich strip has water sealingconnections to a; dowel barassembly} and; vertical waterproof joint-sealing me nsin he oadwam A further; object vof myinvention: is to. provide a trains lane marker-strip;which isadapted" to lie:- a long the-.longitu na1; vertical joints inva con' Crete lfib i adi whi h strip is securedtorthe concrete slabs, and which strip has water sealin'g connections; therewith and g with joint sealing means-interposed between the slabs forming the: vertical joints;

Another object, of--my-; invention is-to provide:

a novel lane; marker in the; form of'ia-disc spot: or; square spot which may-be, securedzto: said roadway at I intervals, flush w;ith': thessurface 10ft the pavement, to forn rqa; visibleetrafficr-markii Further objects and; objects -:-re1a.ting qtos. (16-3- tails of construction and economies of opera tion will a definitely; appear-from the; detailed description; to iollow; I have accomplishedrthev objects-of my inventionby the olevices .amimeans set forth in the following,- specificationa My invention is v clearly defined and-pointed; .ioutrin" the, appeneied claims; Structures forming." the; preferred embodiments of; ;my-; invention are ilI-I iustrated in .the accompanying drawings formingi apart of this specification'in which :1,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a pa1 tqoftwo :concrete slabs showing myelastomer covered nlet'ail .traific, lanemarker set-flush with ,theyroad surface-- along the longitudinal vertical jointszbetween the slabs, withrthe-clowel bar assembly, showing. in dotted line, and witha-- part :of the -,concrete bro-ken away, showing my elastomer topped lane merger and dowel bar assembly ;in-;fullj1ines;

We 2 .iS e i ls.s pfii r ahv ew takenv'along? 3'fiS:9;- detail, sectional view showing the lane marker assembly takerr along the "line 3-"=-*3 or Fig. 1. I

Fig.; 3am is a detail:,.-sectiona1' view" showing? the joint sealing strip-,: the lane marker; and-"the dowel bar connection taken along": the=-1in'e 3at3ae of Fig. I.

Fig.. 3b-iis a View in perspective ofthe" joint sealing strip andrside plates; showing: the cut away portion: in" the' joint sealing:- strip"'and plates; for receiving the dowels'b'ar and marker strip connections Fig;- 4 isa: detail; seotional view of one form of: the--replaceable individual spot type of lane marker: and: means' for receivinge-it' inth'e con of Jtheerubbei unions "for w'ater s'e'aling the' dowel barrcasingsaand the associated T.

s 11 is-a2detai1- viewin perspective showing the elastomer coveredzmetal' lanemarking sti ip'."

Fig; 1245 a" adetail'lviewz in" perspective "showing thef-T which? is used to connect the" marking" strip. to? a do well bars Fig; 13 is: a=sdetail view'"'in'f perspective= showin awmetal collar adapted to nt 1 around a screw fastening the lane-marking strip to a T can nection= embracing a1 dowel bar Fig.1 '14 -is :a detailview in pefspective slifow ing a rubber sleeve adapted to fit ariunWth metal:collarrshownnn l igi13.

Fig..."15r:is' a? detail view in perspective showing an elastomericisleeve' adapted-to fit 'aio'und 'a" rubber union suchiasr'is shownin Fi'g;"10.--

Figx :16 isis detail lview in perspective of-a typical-1. dowel; v bar-.1; withfi'a, 1' helical min-matinggroove cutf'onjts iexteriorisurface screw showniinisection ln"Figs?4 and5.-' Figz; 18 Jisv :a detail view in perspective of the screw receivingxla t bolt shown par-cyansection screw receiving lag bolt shown partly in section in Fig. 5.

Fig. 20 is a detail view in perspective of the screw shown in section in Fig. 3.

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of a locking washer against which the end of the screw of Fig. 20 abuts.

In the drawings the same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are looking in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the section lines.

In general, my invention relates to a trafllc lane marker strip comprising a metal base and a tough, resilient, and water-proof, elastomeric cover secured to said base, which strip is intended to be secured flush in the surface of a roadway. The lane marker is provided with means for securing it at intervals to the dowel bars of an expansion joint assembly which is positioned in the vertical joints between concrete slabs which form the pavement on a roadbed. My lane marker is adapted to be superimposed over the vertical joints of the concrete slabs, above a joint sealing strip which extends between the faces of the adjoining slabs, and through which dowel bars pass. The joint sealing strip is provided with an aperture at each dowel bar unit location for accommodating connections for securing the markin strip to the associated dowel bar. The Joint sealing strip is made of elastomeric material provided with air pockets therein to form a resilient and compressible water-proof vertical joint, and is provided with means cooperating with dowel bar units passing therethrough in water-sealing manner, to permit of expansion and contraction of the slabs- The connections for securing the lane marking strip to adowel bar, include a T through the head of which the dowel bar passes, a metal sleeve surrounding a screw projecting through a hole in the lane marker strip, which screw is screwed into the shaft of the T, and a water-proof investment therefor.

Each dowel bar is slidably mounted in a concrete-held casing on each end. Because the dowel bar casings are buried in the concrete, the casings with the dowel bar therein are supported on the roadbed,-prior to the pouring of concrete thereon, by means of chairs. Each dowel bar near its middle and between the casings, projects through the head in the associated T. The casings each are provided with a groove on the inner end, adapted to receive one end of an elastomeric, water-proof union. The other end of such a rubber union is adapted to be received by a formation on the adjacent end of the head of the associated T. A water-proof, elastomeric sleeve surrounds each union. Thus, a water-tight connection is provided between the T and each of the two associated casings, which thoroughly water-proof th enclosed dowel bar.

The screw, piercing the marking strip and screwed into the shaft of the T, is surrounded by a metal collar, which in turn is invested by an elastic and compressible rubber sleeve which abuts against the rubber sleeves surroundin the associated rubber unions. The rubber sleeve surrounding a collar makes a water-tight seal with. the vertical sealing strip connection aperture.

Referring to the drawings, a roadbed ll (Fig. 3) is provided for concrete pavement slabs l and Ilia (see also Fig. 1). Embedded inthe road-. bed are wire staples 23 holding the lower member of dowelbar unit chairs 24 (see also, Fig. 2) "in place. The chairs, of which there is one for each dowel bar casing, each have wire uprights formed into a downwardly turnin snap loop 24a (Fig. 2) seating the outer grooved end 24b of a dowel bar casing l6 (see also Figs. 3 and 9) to hold the dowel bar units in place prior to the casting of concrete thereabout.

The inner end of each dowel bar casing 16 (Fig. 9) has an annular groove 21 (Fig. 9) adapted to receive one end of the water-proof union l5 (Fig. 10). Each of the casings l6 has an interior bore 28 (Fig. 3) which is adapted to receive one end of a dowel bar I! (see also Fig. 16), which has a helical lubricating groove 29 on its exterior.

Each dowel bar projects through a passageway 30 (Fig. 12) of an associated T H (see also Fig. 3). Each T 4 has an upwardly projecting shaft 3| (Fig. 12) having internal threads 32 adapted to receive the external threads of a screw l3 (Figs. 3 and 20). The end of screw l3 after passing through a metal spacin collar 2| (Fig. 13) abuts against a lock washer (Fig. 21) shown in the bottom of the threaded hole in the shaft of the T. The lower end of collar 2| abuts the upper end of shaft 3|, and the upper end of collar 2| abuts metal strip 12a (Fig. 11) which forms a base for the elastomeric covering l2 cemented or otherwise fastened to its top and sides, formin the unitary lane marking strip l2-I2a. At each dowel unit interval, the strip I2|2a is pierced by a hole 120. The diameter of the hole I2c through the elastomeric covering l2 fits the head of screw l 3 and the diameter of the hole in the metal strip l2a fits the shaft of the screw l3. Thus, the longitudinal rubbertopped metal lane marker strip |2-l 2a is secured to each of the dowel bars in such a manner that it may be removed for replacement.

It is necessary, in lane markers of this type. to provide a means for preventing the entry of water into the vertical joints, as water causes the expansion joint mechanism and the connections between it and the lane marker to become corroded, and causes erosion of and ice damage to the'concrete.

I, therefore, provide along the edges of covering l2 of the lane marker strip unit and interior thereof, air channels I2b which permit the ex panding movement of the concrete, during periods of high temperature, to be expended in compressing the enclosed air without distorting the elastomer material upwardly to form ridges in the road. On subsequent contraction of the concrete the strip expands keeping the joint investment 22, to be described, is a resilient and compressible joint sealing strip l8, set upon the roadbed, before the concrete is cast, between two metal plates I 811. and I8!) (see Fig. 6), held upright in U-shaped chairs l8c welded to the dowel bar unit chairs. The strip [8 is made of water-proof elastomeric material having air channels ltd running its length to permit compression of it without substantial vertical distortion.

As shown in Fig. 3b, the sealing strip l8 and plates I81: and I8!) are provided with an aperture 4|, at each of the dowel bar intervals to receive the dowel bar units, the lane marker strip connections, and the investments which enable such connections to withstand the compression move-' in strip, and the a ermar e -r t inzandeit connections to the 'dowel bars is pu,.,; =.-D1ace. on the roadbed priortothecasting of concret there- Y t h sht0 i et oiove i ai JlT QWate -s ina onn ti ns ioratheun o o the asi-nest t}; arr nsiaid wei bar in udeithe cylindrical elastomeric unio or expansible tubue 1& ::Q Q '1$i ,l-; @5.-W 10 hicb lh sisaneul r shoulders, 4 {at each interior ne to; heme: sewed-b he nnular roove 1, ,theza sociated a in and 113 i mil rite, b ii eivedtbn he associated ifiange q ifi provided one the T 1L4 (Eig."l 2 TheJ I4 ;1and;,the expansible; tubular extensions I Son the :oppcsi-telends of the head-of hei cqns i te adowei. embracing .slecyeespan-i ine h oint.- spa c. stw eniz h rc cr t a s- 121641111011 i5 issurrounded by water .:proof:sleeve Zilqgvhich is of,: a length, (Bqlliilati); that-xofiithe unions ,flhe 1 circumferential portion ofvlthe head i T J 4 rom which pr jects .shaftiiii. andiaeainst' which thetedgeslof the rubbergunion i5iin sleeve 2.0;abut; is received into portion 1.44.201 apertureiiiiin the sealing strip. L 18, and:-.-p1ates Asa. and-:21 8b:-

('Fig.';3b) iat each assemblynpoint; The iinvesta ment 22115 received intoportiondfief apertureMi.

Concrete is pouredover the joint sea-lingstructure, around the QOnnections: aand the marlrer strip assemblys thuseheing formed :into-uslabs which lieeadiacent to one anotherbut separated metal. lane marker; which 1 inc1udes..;a;-me,ta1,disc topped with elastomeriomaterialbonded-thereto;-

and which is adapted to be secured tothe road: way, in;a seriesv1t o iorm ahlane ImFig ta sec;-.

tionthrough this modification is shown and in:-.

cludesa metal disc- 50, toppedgbyan elastomeric.

covering 5| (see also-Fig. '7) extendingyover the.= sides. 7-, The: covering .5 l is provided; with ,a hole 512 to receive; the head, of a screwi-iiiiextending through disc 56, LYilhiCh screyvhead abuts the; metal disc 581. Screw. 53 hasaithreaded'portiona boltlifi' embeddedin the cone;

which :isreceiyed by cretel 1 ,Another modification shown in Fig. 5, is providedwith a: square metalmember 51- ,;which'has. an elastomeric covering 58' on ,:t0p;,,and-' sides: which vreceives. a screw, similar to screw 153,"; screwed into alagiboltc59 embedded in the icon-7:5;

as preferable, butadieneeacr-ylonitrile .copolymer material is eminently suitable when compounded: and. vulcanized to the tough resilienceassociated: Next, :I :prefer; natural, rubber compoundedand vulcanizednto the same resilient toughness. :I am not; however. limiting my invention to these two specific ma-te'--:'=

Crete. H M; 1 '1 x, Of the elastomeric materials I have in mind with modern auto tire casings.

rialsas similar desirable characteristicsarezfound in other commercial elastomeric substances, now availab1e, -which like the two namedn are. W&tBl:-.;

concrete road,a-:butiisrireleasableifrom sai proof in addition to having the resistance to wear andaatmospliiericgaging; .L a amzaware that the structures herein described are, susceptible-of considerable variation: without departing, from the spirit of my inventioni and, therefore; I- claimymy: invention ibroadlyi-as ind?- catediby appended claims." "ii 1' ;-YI-Iaving :thus described my invention, what I claim=as;:new and usefulsand' desireitws on by United states Letters'Patentiisztqy ,;l. Atraflicdanermarker; assembly for a concrete isla-b rroad- :pavement including combination, a dowel bar joining two.concrete slabsacross a, yerticaL-joint; between the slabs; said dowel bar being positionedwbelow; the. surface or ith cbi'i Crete; a trafiic 'laneiimarkerstrip laid :cn'the Suiface ofthe concreteover therioint; a hollow tubular =member: including 2 a T and: expansible tubular extension embracing said *dowel ban -andspanningtheiverticaljcint between-theslabs'; said T-iihaving: a :tubular head: and a shaft: and bolt means fastening the traflic' lane. marker str c the5.S haftEOf -thGJ-T; whereby Lthe'trafli'c lane ina' rk er :strip is heldcinzposition" ona the :s'urra'e o the cad by-unbulting-the: strip from .the sfastening means; :i"2.i-Ai. traffic .iane' marker i strip "a'ssenibl for a concreteisla-b road pavement; inclu diri' com bination, a plurality-10f concrete: slabs lai d r'ipon a roadbed in adjacent proximity to one another; saidsiabsa'being positioned so as to' fcrm a 1511- g-itudirial?everticaledointEalon'g said 'r'oadwa a dowel bar joining adiacent conereteslab t a plurality of inter-valsalong the longitudinal-joint; said "dowel. bar's being-positioned the consists slabs with'iw-hichthey areassos'iated belew the i tween 'cthe-slabs assoeiatedwith each" dowel bar road surfaces a trams lane;marken'strip laid on theroadpavement; surface over the lo'hgitud-i nal ioint said markerstrio having bbluho therein at intervals corresponding to the barrintervals' andsaid' holes being- -pos'itioned-'directlyi over thc associated dowel bar a hollow tubular .=connecting means';= including expan tubular extensions spanning the vertical-join ably mounted said connecting means having ro truding upwardly at the verticalnioint abolt'screw socketpand a beit for each of-said bolt holes the *strip sa idbolt" being fastenableto 'the eo'n "necting. means by threadsfiwh'e'reby when-shah binationr bolts are passed through the strip-and screWedin p1ace= in theconnecting means theastrip is he'ld" inf-place: on-thercadbed; but may be released therefrom for replacement by unscrewing --che-" bolts fromtheconnectingmeans- 33': ';-A =.dowelebaraiunitlassembly for use in connecting adjacent concrete road--pavement slabsand a- 'trafiic; lane marker "strip in" combinatr' if? azdowel bargia T having a-dowel bar aperturem its head: inwhich'the midpoint-oi Said dowel bar is =s1idable, said .:T having ion either en d therecf avfiange; and said' T. having its shaft provided' With-internal screwi threa'dsg a do\vel bar 'casing for each endof :said 'dowelfbarin \vhich: casing the. dowel bar 'is-slidable'; and each of said'ca'sings" assembly for use in connecting: adjacentzconcrete: road pavement sla'b' and a trafiiclane marker strip including in' com ,metalz dowel bar';=:a' meta-I I a dowel bar aperture in its head in which the dowel bar is slidably movable, said T being positioned at approximately the midpoint of said dowel bar, and said T having a shaft having internal screw threads therein; a water-proof metal casing for each end of the dowel bar, the dowel bar being slidably mounted in said casings; and a water-proof resilient and compressible union joining each casing with the T, whereby said dowel bar is encased entirely against th entry of water, but is in floating condition inside of said casings and T. 1

5. A dowel bar unit assembly for use in connecting adjacent concrete road pavement slabs and a trafllc lane marker strip including in combination, a dowel bar; a water-proof metal casing for each end of said dowel bar in which the dowel bar is slidably fitted; a metal piece surrounding the dowel at its mid-point between the internal end of the casings for connection to the marker strip, said dowel bar being slidably movable in said metal piece; and water-proof, resilient, compressible unions joining said metal piece to the casings on either side thereof, whereby said dowel bar is protected against the entry of water and yet is slidably movable within said casings which may be moved toward one another slightly by reason of the compressible nature of said unions.

6. A dowel bar unit assembly for use in connecting adjacent concrete road pavement slabs and a traflio lane marker strip including in combination, a dowel bar; a metal piece slidably mounted on said dowel bar and positioned near the mid-portion thereof for connection to the marker strip, said piece having a threaded portion in a boss protruding from the mid-portion thereof; a casing for either end of the dowel bar. each end'of the dowel bar being slidably mounted in the associated casing, and the interior ends of said casing approximating the metal piece; and a resilient, compressible, and elastic union connecting each casing with the metal piece, whereby said dowel bar floats in said casings and wherein said casings are movable slightly toward one another by reason of the resilience and elasticity of said unions.

'7. The trafllc lane marker strip of claim 2 including means filling the joint spaces not occupied by the dowel bars and connecting means, said filling means being water-proof and elastic, whereby the joint is rendered water-proof under conditions subsequent to expansion and contraction.

8. In a concrete slab road pavement construction including dowel bars connecting adjacent pavement slabs across the vertical joint therebetween and a traflic lane marker strip laid on the surface of the pavement over the vertical joint, the combination of means connecting the lane marker strip to each of the dowel bars including a tubular sleeve on said dowel bars having expansible tubular extensions for spanning the joint;-

ill

8 bar embracing sleeve, including expansible tubular sections for spanning the joint, engaged by a bolt passing through the strip, for connecting the lane marker strip to each of the dowel bars; and means to seal the joint spaces not occupied by the dowel bars and connecting means against the entry of water.

10. In a concrete slab road pavement construction including dowel bars connecting adjacent pavement slabs across the vertical joint therebetween and a trailic lane marker strip laid on the surface of the pavement over the vertical joint, the combination of a means, including a. dowel bar embracing sleeve, including expansible tubularsections for spanning the joint engaged by a bolt passing through the strip, for each of the dowel bars for connecting the lane marker strip to each of the dowel bars; and means to seal the joint spaces not occupied by the dowel bars and connecting means, said sealing means being of resilient and compressible material, whereby upon expansion and contraction of the joint the joint will be protected against the entry of water.

11. In a concrete slab road pavement construction including dowel bars connecting two adjacent pavement slabs across the vertical joint therebetween and a trafllc lane marker strip laid on the surface of the pavement over the vertical joint, the combination of a means including a dowel bar embracing sleeve, including expansible tubular sections for spanning the joint engaged by a connector passing through the strip, for connecting the lane marker strip to each of the dowel bars, each of said dowel bars being slidable in said embracing sleeve and said tubular extensions; and elastomeric and compressible shields surrounding the connector and dowel bar embracing means, protecting said connector against the expansion action of the concrete.

- 12. In a concrete slab road pavement construction including dowel bars connecting two adjacent pavement slabs across the vertical joint therebetween and a trailic lane marker strip laid on the surface of the pavement over the vertical joint, the combination of a means including a dowel bar embracing sleeve, including expansible tubular extensions to span the joint engaged by a connector passing through the strip, for connecting each of the dowel bars to the marker strip, said dowel bars being slidably mounted in the embracing sleeve and tubular extensions with which it is associated; a water-proof casing on each end of the dowel bar; elastomeric and resilient unions engaging each casing with the embracing means cooperating with the associated dowel bar, whereby said dowel bars each are encased in a water-proof manner but floating therein; an elastomeric water-proof and compressible sleeve surrounding each connector and abutting on the top end against the under part of the lane marker strip and on the lower end against the water-proof union connecting the dowel bar casings to the embracing piece; and an elastomeric and compressible joint filling piece of material filling all the space in the joint not occupied by the dowel bars, the connectors, and the water-proof means surrounding them, where by said joint is protected against the entry of water under normal conditions and during subsequent expansion and contraction of the concrete.

13. A traflic lane marker strip assembly for a concrete slab road pavement comprising the. combination, of a dowel bar adapted to beem- 75 bedded in the ends of two adjacent slabs for joining them together, a traiiic lane marker strip adapted to be laid on the surface of the concrete over the joint between the slabs, a hollow tubular member, including expansible tubular extensions to span the joint between the sections slidably mounted on the dowel bar between the ends of adjacent slabs, and means for clamping the marking strip to the hollow tubular member.

14. A trafiic lane marker strip assembly as set forth in claim 13, including a sectional casing for the dowel bar, and means for connecting the hollow tubular member to the sections of the dowel casing.

J OHN E. CARTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

1 Number ill 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Truxal Mar. 6, 1928 OBrien Nov. 1, 1932 Fischer Apr. 16, 1935 Fischer Sept. 17, 1935 Hall et a1. June 2, 1936 Bargreen June 9, 1936 Fischer Dec. 29, 1936 Gammeter Feb. 16, 1937 Fischer Mar. 15, 1933 Giifin Nov. 1, 1938 Roberts Dec. 13, 1938 Dewhirst May 2, 1939 Geyer June 29, 1943 Parmenter Oct. 19, 1943 

